Eagles' Polk has some catching up to do

Chris Polk celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the Eagles’ rout of the Bears last season. The third-year back has been slowed by a hamstring injury, and a couple of other running backs may have passed him by in the battle for a backup role. (Times file / ERIC HARTLINE)

PHILADELPHIA — Chris Polk likely had high hopes after the Eagles essentially swapped a young backup running back in Bryce Brown for a veteran of diminishing returns in Darren Sproles.

Sproles, 31, acquired from the Saints on March 13, has an impressive NFL resume. But last season he had trouble getting touches with the Saints, who would use him more as a pass-catching supplement and kick returner. He figures to see varied looks in coach Chip Kelly’s disco offense. So when Brown was dealt to Buffalo in May, third-year back Polk could easily have seen himself as a busy backup to LeSean McCoy.

Except that most of what Polk, 24, has seen lately is a daily rehabilitation agenda.

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He had grown accustomed to such things while at the University of Washington, and went undrafted in 2012 due to continuing concerns over a nagging and degenerative shoulder condition that dogged him in college. Polk had shoulder surgery last winter after re-injuring it during the season, but he came to camp optimistic that his future was about to blossom. Soon, however, he’d be sidelined by a hamstring injury that lingered for weeks.

In Polk’s absence, meanwhile, a lot of attention has been paid to hopeful running back prospects Matthew Tucker and Henry Josey. Further complicating matters for Polk is the Eagles trading Tuesday with Carolina for second-year back Kenjon Barner, who played at Oregon for Kelly.

Tucker has averaged 4.8 yards per game in the preseason and has racked up four touchdowns. Josey leads the team in rushing with 104 yards on only 12 attempts thus far. And Polk?

Well, he’s finally back at practice.

“I’m not out of shape, but I’m not in football shape,” Polk noted Saturday. “Because to be in football shape, you have to play football. There’s nothing you can do outside the field that’s going to get you prepared for that. So I definitely have to step it up there.”

Polk was inactive for the bulk of his freshman NFL season, and didn’t get much of a chance to step lively until late last season. On 11 total rushing attempts, however, he went for 98 yards (an 8.9 ypg. average) and three touchdowns. Hence the thought that this third season could be a bit of a breakout year for him.

Now Polk seems to be in a make-or-break position with just one preseason game (Thursday against the Jets) remaining ahead of final cuts.

Not that there’s anything to worry about.

“I always felt the urgency, because I know what we had in our running back room,” said Polk, who added he’s been friendly with Barner since their college days in the PAC-12. “I know they’re all great players. I’m always eager to get out there with people we have in that room. We’re like a real close family in there. We’re all pushing each other and no one in that room wants to be a backup, so we all know when we come to work it’s time to work.”

Consider Polk at least a couple of steps behind on the current running-back curve. If anyone has to kick immediately into overdrive, it would be him.

“I’ve got to show them,” Polk said. “Obviously, I missed a lot, so I have to put my best foot forward and just show them; like, ‘I’m here and I’m the real deal!’

“There’s always something you can get better at. One of the things I really wanted to focus on was my weight. I did that this past offseason, but this past month, not playing, it’s been just a little hiccup. I have to get back on track and right now I’m a little heavy. I have to lose a few pounds.”

If he’s able to put together any kind of performance against the Jets, perhaps Polk can at last shed some weight off his shoulders. But for now, the odds seem long that he can be ready in time to do much in that fourth and final preseason outing.

Asked Saturday if Polk could realistically be expected to contribute by then, Kelly vaguely offered, “They said he’s going to try to go. We’ll see what he can do. He’s going to run around today.”

As it was, Polk was taking the direct route to positive vibes.

“With injuries, you can’t control that,” Polk said. “But I’m very optimistic. It could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe this gave me time to work on my shoulder and improve in other areas ... getting stronger, faster, whatever.

“Even though I’m not playing, I watch every carry of every single back we have. And I try to envision what I would do, so I don’t fall behind. But I’m here now.”

About the Author

Rob Parent is the Daily Times sports editor. He also covers the Flyers as well as writing an occasional column. Reach the author at rparent@delcotimes.com
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